Automatic honing machine



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mw @n \W ww o Sw e w/.Lr/f n xH n 7 ////Ar fwn, @jaw ww ww wamw@ wwAUToMArrc HoNrNG Macerata Albert F. Hasty and Gilbert W. Boyle, Elkhart,Ind., assignors to Superior Hone Corporation, Elkhart, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,54514 claims. (C1. 51434) The present invention relates to honingapparatus, and particularly, to an improved honing machine facilitatingthe automatic and accurate honing of articles of manufacture at a highproduction rate.

Honing is a well known method of working articles of manufacture,particularly the bores and cavities in metallic articles, to highlyaccurate nished dimensions and to an exceedingly smooth surface finish.Because of the niteness of iinished dimension to be obtained, honing isa quite delicate operation and every precaution must be taken to insureaccuracy. Accordingly, honing is not immediately suited'to methods ofmass production. However, a number of machines have been developed andmarketed which bring honing to practical commercial use for modernstandards.

It is, broadly, an object of the present invention to improve upon knownhoning machines to render the same even more widely and effectivelysuited for mass production manufacture and to afford an even greaterdegree of accuracy for honing operations.

In particular, three principal problems have been encountered inproduction with known honing machines, all of which comprise obstaclesto development of a fully automatic machine and at least two of whichare substantial deterrents to attainment of the degree of accuracydesired, these three unsolved problems thus necessitating operation ofknown honing machines at slower production rates than the machinesotherwise would be capable of. The first problem relates to theexpansive force of the honing stones, the second to the alignment of thehoning tool or mandrel and the work piece, and the third to the gaugingof the work piece after honing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved honingmachine overcoming the three problems noted and accommodating fullyautomatic operation of the machine at the fastest rate possible for agiven honing operation.

Considering the first problem stated above, it is to be observed thathoning tools conventionally comprise. a rotatable mandrel carrying aplurality of honing stones which are movable radially with respect tothe mandrel into and out of engagement with the walls of the bore or thelike to be honed. The stones are normally retracted to accommodate entrythereof into a bore, and after entry, while the mandrel is rotatedwithin the bore, the stones are biased outwardly into engagement withthe walls of the bore to perform work upon the same. Heretofore, springmeans have been employed to bias the stones outwardly, the spring meansaffording the advantage of resiliently biasing the stones intoengagement with the work, rather than positively forcing the same intothe Work. However, spring means suffers the decided disadvantage thatthe force applied to the stones and thus to the work cannot be ofuniform pressure for all settings or degrees of compression of thespring means, which creates serious problems with respect to calibrationand adjustment of the machine, since Patented Sept. 10, 1957 it isessential that only a given resilient force be exerted for a giveninterval.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above statedproblems and difficulties inherent in known honing machines by providingmeans for exerting a constant, even, readily adjusted, resilient forceon the honing stones during honing. Specifically, it is an object of theinvention to provide an improved honing machine includingruid pressureoperated means exerting a constant, uniform biasing force on the stonesduring honing.

With respect to the second problem above stated, it is exceedinglydiflicult in mass production to align an article of manufacture to behoned perfectly with Vthe honing tool. Yet, the alignment must beperfect if the honing is to be accurate. Misalignment in production isusually the result of slightly ott-center positioning of the bore in anarticle, or of an inability to locate the bore axially in alignment withthe honing tool. In almost all cases, the degree of misalignment isrelatively small in terms of abstractly considered physical dimen- Ysions, but when considered in the light of the exceedingly small changein dimension to be elected by the honing tool, misalignment is a verysubstantial problem.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the alignmentproblem by provision of self-aligning means for honing machines whichaccommodates auto- Vmatic alignment of the honing tool axially of thebore of the invention to provide an improved honing ma` chine includingmandrel supporting means accommodating lateral and/or angular offset ofthe mandrel, said means being self-aligning and normally supporting themandrel for rotation about a given axis, said means accommodatingmovement of the mandrel upon insertion and rotation of the mandrel in abore to permit the mandrel to align itself axially of the bore due toengagement of the honing stones with the wall of the bore.

In all honing operations, it is necessary to gauge the honed bore toinsure that the same is of proper size and that the honing operation hasbeen properly carried out. Pneumatic plug gauges have come into wide usefor this purpose and are highly practical. However, at present, it isnecessary to remove the honing tool from the honed bore, and separatelyto insert the plug gauge. The gauge may be inserted into the honed boremanually or by separate machinery, or the guage may be stationary andthe work piece slipped onto the gauge. In any case, the work piece orarticle of manufacture must he removed from the honing machine and/orits jig, and if the bore is undersize, the work piece must be re-set-upon the honing machine, with attendant alignment problems, to effect amore thorough honing, all of which appreciably slows production, as willbe apparent.

It is also an object of the invention to overcome this problem byprovision of pneumatic plug gauge means in combination with a honingtool to accommodate gaugingof the honed bore directly on the honingmachine and as an automatic, rapidly performed step in the operation ofthe machine, without requiring any movement Whatever of the work pieceor article of manufacture.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to pro' vide animproved honing machine including a rotatable mandrel having honingstones at the outer-end thereof,

and a pneumatic plug gauge mounted concentrically sion of a singleimproved honing machine incorporating a'llV of the above objectivelystated features of the invention.

A, still further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedhoning machine that automatically carries out a complete honingoperation and that is adapted to fully automatic control and performanceof all facets of honing procedure in the mass production of articles ofmanufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the' present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentof the invention.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofmaking and using the vhoning machine of our present invention, we shalldescribe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, apreferredembodiment Ofour'machine and a preferred manner of making the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the honing machine Of the invention, theview Vshowing Vthe operating structure of the machine per se in solidlinesV andthe control panel, control switches, control valve, hydraulicreservoir and pump, coolant reservoir and pump and air gauge comparatorin 'dotted lines, these latter components being represented in dottedlines since the same, for purposes of clarity, have not been shownintheir proper physical location, Athe view also showing in dotted linesa work piece -to be honed;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, :of thehoning apparatus shown in solid lines in Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, ofthemeans accommodating alignment of the honing ytool with a bore to behoned, the View being taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is la Vfragmentary plan view, partly in section and partly inelevation, of the mandrel assembly, the view being taken substantiallyon line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the mandrel assembly, the viewbeing taken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 2f Referring now to thedrawings, and particularly to Figure l, we have'indicated the honingapparatus per se' of our invention at 10, the apparatus including arotatable honing tool or mandrel, indicated generally at 11. The

. apparatus is slidably mounted on a base plate 12 forV reciprocatorymovement longitudinally of the mandrel 11', a hydraulic motor 13 of thepiston type being operatively associated with the apparatus lil toreciprocate the same. The hydraulic motor 13 Vis actuated by hydraulicuid supplied to the motoriunder pressure from a fluid reservoir` 14through a pump 15, the purnp being operated byV an electric motor 16. Inassembly, the base 12 is preferably individual to the apparatus 19, toconstitute the same a` complete assembly, as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

The piston of the hydraulic motor 13is preferably connected to theapparatus 10 and the cylinder of the motor is mounted on a separate baseplate 17. The base plates 12 and 17 are mounted in aligned spacedrelation on a pair of spaced parallel base beams 1S, the said members12, 17 and 1 8 thus comprising Ithe base of the honing machine of theinvention. Mounted on and forming part of the base are a Vpair of spacedparallel transverse guide rails 19` which are disposed forwardly of andat right angles to theV mandrel 11l of the apparatus 10. A carriage 20is slidablyfmountecl .on the guide rails 19 for reciprocatorymovement atright angles to the mandrel 11, the carriage preferably beingdove-tailed to the rails or having a like'connection therewith. Thecarriage Ztliis adapted to be'reciprocated by means of a hydraulic motor21, which is also actuated by iluid from the reservoir 14, the

motor 21 being mounted on the base of the machine between the rails lbeneath the carriage 20.

The carriage 20 comprises a work piece holding xture or Vjig defining atleast one and preferably two or more cradles or stations for receivingWork pieces. In the prefer ed embodiment, two cradles are dened, eachadapted to receive a work piece 22 having a bore therein to be honed. InFigure l, the shell portion of an explosive shell is shown as the workpiece, the shell having an axial Vbore therethrough deining acylindrical cavity or bore portion at the forward end of the shelladapted to receive an arming mechanism, this portion of the bore beingrequired to be very accurately honed'for the intimate reception of themechanism. While reference is made herein Ito the honing of thisspecific work piece, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to awide variety of honing operations. At each cradle or station thereof,the fixture or carriage 20 includes anl upstanding arm 23 defining anabutment stop V24 for -the work piece and a second arm 25 pivoted to theupper end of the arm 23 and normally extending therefrom toward themandrel 11 to overlie the work piece. A lever 26 is connected to the arm25 to pivot the same from a vertical position in alignment with the arm23 to the horizontal position shown in Figure l, the pivot connection ofthe two arms preferably including detent means (not shown) releas'ablyto hold 'the arm 25 in each of the two positions thereof. At its outerend, the arm 25 includes a spring pressed abutment 27 adapted to engagethe upper surface of the work piece 22 to retain the work piece in itscradle. Upon motion of the lever 26, as shown in Figure l, downwardly tothe right, -the arm 25 and abutment 27 are moved to release the workpiece, whereupon the one work piece may be removed and another insertedin its place. By provision of two stations or cradles, a honed workpiece may be removed and an unhoned work piece substituted therefor atone station, manually or by appropriate apparatus known in the art,while the apparatus 16 is honing another work piece at the otherstation, so that the honing Y being laterally oset from the mandrel 11to facilitate beams 18 are normally supported by legs to elevate thehoning apparatus 10 and fixture 20 to a convenient working height, inwhich case the reservoirs 14 and 28 and pumps 15 and 29 are normallypositioned beneath the b eams and enclosed withinra suitable sheet metalhousing. For thesake of clarity and to avoid excessive illustration, theVcomplete machine structure has not been shown herein, the pumps andreservoirs being merely rep resented in dotted lines to indicate thatthe true physical location, structure yand size thereof have not beenshown.

The honing apparatus per se of the invention, as indicated at 10, isshown in Figure l as including upper and lower portions 3) and`31,respectively, the upper portion 30 being mounted on the lower portion 31and incuding an electric motor 32. For purposes of braking the motor 32,to prevent coasting of thc operable components of theapparat-us upondeenergization of the motor, a plugging switch motor 33 is connected tothe shaft of the motor 32 by Va belt drive. Apulley 34 is mounted on theshaft of the motor 32, the pulley 34 presenting a plurality of beltsurfaces over which a plurality of belts 35 are reaved to establishdriving connection between the shaft of the motor 32 and a pulley 36included in the lower portion 31 of the apparatus. As shown in Figure 2,the pulley 36 is keyed to the outer end of a tubular shaft 37 which isrotatably mounted at its inner end by means of bearings 38 in thehousing 39 of the lower portion 31 of the apparatus.

The housing 39 is preferably completely closed and includes at theopposite sides thereof a pair of horizontally aligned tubular portions4.0 each receiving and retaining a ball bushing in each end portionthereof and a spacer bushing 41a between the ball bushings. Each bushingassembly slidably receives a longitudinal supporting rod 42 ofcylindrical form, the rods 42 being disposed in spaced parallel relationto one another and the base plate 12 and being xedly supported at theopposite ends thereof by upright supports or stanchions 43 which arefixedly mounted on the base plate 12. Accordingly, the housing 39, andthus the entirety of the portions 30 and 31 of the apparatus 10, areslidably mounted on the stationary rods 42 by the bushings 41 and 41a,whereby the apparatus 10 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation bymeans of the hydraulic motor 13. To seal the housing about the rods 42,annular end plates 44 are secured to the opposite ends of the tubularportions 40, and a seal 45 is confined within each end plate sealinglyto engage the surface of the respective rod 42. By maintaining thesealed relationship, the housing 39 may serve as a reservoir forlubricating oil to lubricate the moving parts of the apparatus.Preferably, the bushings 41a are exposed and apertured in a conventionalmanner to accommodate the passage of lubricant to the engaging surfacesof the bushings 4l and 41a and the rods 42. Axially thereof, i. e.,midway between the tubular portions 40, the housing 39 is provided withtubular portions 46 and 47 projecting into the interior of the housingfrom the rear and front walls 4S and 49 thereof, respectively. Thetubular portion 46 defines a pair of spaced coaxial bearing mounts 50,within which the outer races of a pair of bearings, the bearings 38 aremounted, the inner races of the bearings being separated by a tubularspacer 51.

The tubular shaft 37 is received within the spacer Si and the innerraces of the bearings 3S and at its inner end includes a radial liangeabutting one face of the inner race of the interior bearing, the shaftbeing secured to the inner races of the bearings 38 and the spacer l bymeans of a G-ring 52 or the like abutting the opposite face of the innerrace of the exteriorly located bearing 33. To seal the shaft 37 withrespect to the housing 39, an annular end plate 53 is secured to thehousing about the shaft, a seal 54 being confined within the end platesealingly to engage the shaft. The bearings 38 are exposed to theinterior of the housing to accommodate lubrication thereof by thelubricant in the housing. At the inner end thereof, the shaft 37 isinternally splined slidably but non-rotatably to receive a splined shaft55 which includes a rearwardly extending elongate stem 56 and which atits forward end is provided with a bifurcated fork portion or clevis 57.The stem 56 of the shaft 55 is secured at its rearward end to the innerrace of a bearing 58 which rotatably but non-slidably supports theextension in a two piece connector 59 which is pinned to the forward endof the piston shaft 60 of a pneumatic motor 61. The motor 61 is fixedlysupported by frame means 62 extending rearwardly from the housing 39 tobe movable longitudinally of the base i2 with the housing and theremainder of the apparatus 10. The motor 6l is a single acting airmotor, the piston thereof being movable forwardly by means of air underpressure introduced into the cylinder of the motor and being returned bymeans of a spring 63. The purpose and function of this motor will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter.

The clevis 57 at the forward end of the splined shaft 55 comprises onepart of a universal joint 64 which connects or couples the shaft 55 to asecond shaft 65, the shafts 55 and 65 usually being axially aligned andbeing connected by the universal 64 for conjoint rotation and axialmovement. The universal 64, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, includes anintermediate member 66 which is pivotally connected to the clevis 57 bymeans of a pair of pins 67 which define a pivot axis diametrically ofthe shaft 55 about which the member 66 may pivot with respect to theclevis 57 and shaft 55. The intermediate member 66 also is pivotallyconnected to the rearward end of the second shaft by means of a pin 68which defines a pivot axis diametrically of the shaft 65, the two pivotaxes dened by the pins 67 and 68 intersecting one another at rightangles. The pins 67 may be press tted or otherwise secured indiametrically opposed bores in the member 66, and the clevis 57 ispreferably provided with sleeve bearings in aligned bores thereinrotatably receiving the pins 67. Likewise, the pin 68 may be press ttedor secured in a diametrical bore in the shaft 65 and the member 66 ispreferably provided with sleeve bearings in aligned bores thereinrotatably receiving the opposite ends of the pin 68. Accordingly, theuniversal 64 connects the two shafts for simultaneous conjoint rotationand axial movement, the pins 67 and 68 of the universal accommodatingangular inclination of the shaft 65 with respect to the shaft 55. Inaddition, the member 66 is formed with respect to the members 57 and 65to define clearance between the various members, whereby the members, byvirtue of the pins sliding in their bearings, also accommodate lateralor radial offset of the shaft 65 with respect to the shaft 55. Due tothe structure of the universal, the same readily accommodates bothindividual and simultaneous angular and lateral olfset of the shafts 55and 65.

The shaft 65, forwardly of the universal 64, is intimately receivedwithin a tubular spindle 69 and at its forward end terminates in aT-shaped end member 70. The member 70 may suitably be formed separatelyof the shaft 65 and have its stem threaded into the forward end of theshaft axially thereof. The head of the T-shaped member extendsdiametrically of the shaft 65 and spindle 69 and is of a length greaterthan the diameter of the shaft to be received at its opposite ends inslots 71 provided in diametrically opposed relation in the spindle 69,the head of the T thus rotatably connecting the shaft and the spindleand the slots accommodating relative axial movement of the two.Preferably, bearing caps 72 are disposed over the ends of the head ofthe T and each is rotatably supported thereon by means of a ballconiined between the respective cap and end of the T head. Forwardly ofthe slots therein, the spindle 69 is provided with a radial flange 73,and between this ange and an annular end cap 74 secured to the rearwardend of the spindle is clamped a bearing assembly 75.

The bearing assembly 75 includes a self-aligning bearing and a pair ofthrust bearings, the latter being disposed to opposite sides of theformer. The self-aligning bearing may be of any known type and is hereinshown as comprising a spherical bearing having an annular inner race 76and an annular outer race 77, the inner race 1being longer than theouter race and the bearing surface between the two races being sphericalto accommodate tilting or relative angular movement of the races withrespect to each other. The outer race 77 is stationarily clamped withinthe tubular portion 47 of the housing 39 and the inner race 76 looselysurrounds the spindle 69 without normally engaging the same, wherebyclearance normally exists between the two, as is indicated at 78. Thethrust bearings are clamped to the opposite sides of the inner race 76of the self-aligning bearing and each comprises, as indicated at therearward bearing, a pair of annular races 79 and 8) and a plurality ofballs 81 located between the radial faces of the two races.

The race 79 adjacent the Yself-aligning bearing may'suitably becounterbored Yon the face thereof engaging the inner race 76 of thebearing for alignment purposes, but the counterbore vis not so deep asnormally to ,permit the race 79 vto engage the outer race 77 Yof theself-aligning bearings, clearance specifically being provided, as isindicated at 82. The oposite radial face of the race 79 is entirelysmooth to accommodate radial movement of the race 79 with respect to thebearing balls 81. The bearing balls are retained in place due to theirreception within an annular groove provided in the face of the race Si).As thus assembled, the :bearings are clamped in place, as above noted,between the iiange 73'and the end cap 74 which is detachably secured tothe spindle 69. Suitably,.the Vcap 74 is splined or keyed to the spindle69 and secured thereon by a .set screw. To enclose the bearing .assembly75 and to clamp the same in the tubular portion 47 ofthe housing 39anannular end cap 83 is secured to the outer surface of the wall 49 of thehousing in axial alignment with :the portion 47.

lnuse, as the shafts and 65 are rotated, the spindle 69 is rotatedtherewith due to the engagement therewith of the T-shaped member 70carried by the shaft 65. The spindle 69 is rotatably supported by thethrust bearings of the bearing assembly 75, the races thereof beingcarried by the spindle and the balls 81 accommodating relative rotationbetween the races '79 and S0. The clearanceV vprovided in the universalvjoint and the clearance at 7S between the spindle and the inner race 76of the self-aligning bearing accommodate lateral offset of the shaft 65and spindle 69 with respect to the shaft 55, the races 80 and balls alof the thrust bearingsin such case moving radially of the races 79. Dueto gravity, the shaft 65 and the spindle 69 normally rotate about anaxis disposed in spaced parallel relation to the axis of rotation of theshaft 55. In addition to the defined clearance, Vthe pivot axes of andclearance provided in the universal, in conjunction with the sphericalmovement accommodated by the self-aligning bearing (76, 77) and theclearance at 82 between the races 79 and 77, will accommodate angularinclination or offset of the shaft 65 and spindle 69 with respect to theshaft 55. Also, the aforesaid structural relationship of the componentsinvolved will accommodate simultaneous lateral offset and angularinclination of the shaft 65 and spindle 69 with Vrespect to Vthe shaft55. The reason for accommodating lateral and/ or angular offset willbecome more fully apparent as the description proceeds.

The spindle 69 extends forwardly from the housing 39'to an appreciablelength and defines within the interior thereof a guide bore for thereception of the honing tool or mandrel 1l. In the art, the word mandreldescribes the member which carries the honing stones and this member isspecifically indicated, in Figures 2, 4 and 5, at 84. The mandrel S4comprises a cylindrical shaft provided with bayonet slot means 85 at itsrearward end and a head portion at its forward end. The mandrel isadapted to be slidably inserted in the spindle and rotated therein toreceive the head of the T-shaped member 76 in the bayonet slots thereof,thus to connect the mandrel to the shaft 65 for conjoint rotation withthe shafts 55 and 65 andthe spindle 69, and for conjoint axial movementwith the shafts 55 and 65. The head portion of the mandrel is indicatedat 36 and is shown herein as comprising an enlarged or bulbouscylindrical portion at theouter end of the mandrel. In actualconstruction, the head 36 may belarger, smaller, or the same size as theshaft portion of the mandrel depending upon the diameter of the bore tobe honed. Also, the head portion'86 may be of a length greater or lessthan that shown herein, depending againrupon the nature of a specifichoning operation. irrespective of its diameter and length, the headportion is provided therein with diametrically opposed recesses S7 (seeFigures 2, 4 and 5) each of which is relatively wide and Adefines,andnclined `base S wall tapering radially inwardly from the rearto thefront of the head. Also, the head 86 and the forwardportion of themandrel are provided centrally vof the recesses-S7 with diametricallyopposed longitudinal grooves 5 S8 which extend rearwardly in the shaftinto the Vinterior of the spindle 69. The recesses S7 are adapted forthe reception therein of complementally formed honing stones 89, each ofwhich has an inclined base wall and an arcuate wall, the outer walls ofthe two stones defining a cylinder of a greater diameter than that ofthe head 86.

Each stone is fixed to a metallic shoe which is of a width greater thanthe respective stone and the respective recess 87 to be received at atleast one longitudinal edge thereof in a slot 90 formed in the side wallof each recess 7 adjacent and parallel to the base wall thereof.

For most honing operations, the provision of a single slot 99 in eachrecess is adequate to-define an interlocking relation between the shoeof the stone and the head of the mandrel for the purpose of retainingthe stone in the recess. However, for exceedingly delicate work,

a slot 90 may be provided in each side wall of each recess and the stoneshoe may be made of a width to enter into both slots. Aflixed to eachshoe is a retainer or retaining wire 91 which extends rearwardly fromtheV 25 respective stone within a groove 88 in the mandrel so as not toproject from the mandrel. immediately adjacent the forward end of thespindle 69, the retainers 91 are each turned radially outward to bereceived at the terminal 'ends thereof in notches provided in theforward end of the spindle (see Figure 4). To lock the stone retainers9i to the spindle 69, an end cap 92 is mounted on the spindle Vtooverlie the radially disposed terminal ends of the retainers.Preferably, the cap is provided with an inclined slot 93 in thecylindrical wall thereof and a pin 94 is passed through the slot andthreaded into the spindle to secure the cap to the spin# dle whileaccommodating rotation of the cap. In the forward face thereof, the capis provided with diametrically aligned slots 95 which are adapted to bealigned with the grooves 8S in the mandrel and the notches in thespindle to accommodate insertion and removal of the retaining wires,thus to accommodate insertion and removal from the spindle of completemandrel assemblies, the cap being rotatable to move unslotted portionsof the cap over the radial portions of the retainer to lock theretainers and the honing stones to the spindle. Preferably, a nosemember 96 is secured to the end of the mandrel to retain the stones onthe mandrel even if a retainer wire were to break.

Upon assembly of the various components in the manner above described,it is to be appreciated that as the hollow shaft 37 is rotated, by meansof the motor 32 through the drive means 34, 35, 36, the shafts 55 and65, the spindle 69, the mandrel 84 and the stone assembly D are rotatedconjointly with one another to rotate the stones S9 within a bore in awork piece, the universal 64 and bearing assembly 75 accommodating suchangular and lateral movement of the mandrel, spindle and stones as maybe required. Then, upon supply of air under pressure to the pneumaticmotor 6l, the piston rod 69, shaft 55, universal 64, shaft 65 andmandrel 84 (including the nose 96) are moved forwardly with respect tothe housing 39, tubular shaft 37, spindle 69 and bearing assembly 75.The spindle cap 92 and retainers 91 retain the stones 89 in a fixedaxial relation to the spindle 69 so that the head S6 of the mandrel S4moves forwardly with respect to the stones. During such movement, theinclined base walls of the recesses 87 in the mandrel head S6 cam thehoning stones S9 radially outwardly of the mandrel to move the same intoengagement with the wall or surface of the work piece to be honed, theretainers 9l-being resilient to accommodate such movement. Due to thefact that the stones are moved outwardly by air pressure through theinstrumentalities described, it is to be appreciated that a resilienteorcushioning force is applied to the stones to bias the same outwardly andthat the force or pressure exerted on the stones for a given honingoperation is constant and uniform. Furthermore, the pressure is readilyvaried to increase or decrease the biasing force as may be required fordierent honing operations. For controlling the supply of air to themotor 61, the honing machine of the invention preferably includes avalve 97, suitably a solenoid valve, and an air pressure regulator 98 inthe air supply conduit 89, as is shown in Figure l. For any setting ofthe regulator 98, a constant supply of air at uniform pressure issupplied to the motor upon opening of the valve 97, and the pressure isreadily variable by adjustment of the regulator 98. The valve 97preferably includes a vent port for relieving air pressure in the motor61 upon closing of the valve. Upon relief of air pressure, the spring 63and the motor 61 return the shaft 55, universal 64, shaft 65 and mandrel84 to their original positions, whereby the stones 89 are moved radiallyinwardly, due to the engagement of the shoes thereof in the slots 90 inthe mandrel head 86, to free the stones from the work piece.

After the honing stones have worked upon the walls of the bore to behoned, it is necessary to gauge the bore to insure accuracy of the bore.As pointed out hereinbefore, pneumatic plug gauges are ideally suitedfor such purpose, but use of the gauges has heretofore presented adeterrent to high production because of a necessity for gauging the borein the work piece separately of the honing machine and in a distinct,individual operation. According to the present invention, this problemis obviated by incorporation of the gauge directly in the honingmachine. Specifically, as is shown in Figure 2, the spindle 69 of themachine of the invention is extended to an appreciable length outwardlyof the housing 39 to define a cylindrical mounting surface. Upon thissurface, we mount the tubular gauge plug 100 of a pneumatic gauge. Theplug 100 is confined between the housing cap 83 and spindle cap 92 andis preferably mounted for rotation with respect to the spindle 69, sothat the spindle 69 may rotate within the plug While the plug is heldstationary. The inner diameter of the plug 100 is preferably greaterthan the outer diameter of the spindle 69 to accommodate bearings 103which rotatably support the plug on the spindle. The plug 100 includes aradial flange 104 having a generally radial bore 105 thereinconstituting the air inlet to the plug, an air supply conduit or hose106 communciating with the bore and being connected to the flange 104 bya tting 107. Suitably, the plug may be held against rotation by means ofa rod 108 projecting from the housing 39 or cap 83 and engaging thefitting 107. As is customary, the plug 100 is provided in thecylindrical body thereof with one or more longitudinal passages or veins101, each of which communicates at its opposite ends with the air inlet105 and with a radial bore 109 through which air may escape into thespace between the plug and the honed bore, the rate of escape of aircomprising the measurable function for gauging of the bore. Forindicating the gauge diameter of the bore, an air comparator 110, asshown in Figure l, is included in the air supply conduit 106, thecomparator being a known measuring instrument for comparing the rate ofescape of air from the plug 100 to a known standard, the comparatorincluding a properly marked or calibrated scale and a dial hand movableover the scale to indicate whether the diameter of the bore is withinestablished tolerances, or smaller or larger.

Referring now particularly to Figure l of the drawings, we will describethe operation of the honing machine of the invention in conjunction withcertain control instrumentalities to render operation fully automatic.As shown in dotted lines, the machine includes a control panel 111 whichmay be mounted on a suitable portion of the machine to be readilyaccessible to the machine operator. This panel includes three series ofcontrol instrumentalities for four functions, namely, an indicator light112,

a start or on switch button 113 and a reverse, stop, of olf switchbutton 114, one each of the components 112, 113 and 114 being providedfor the hydraulic pump 15,- the coolant pump 29, the fixture motor 21and the honing apparatus 10. To commence operation of the machine, thestart buttons 113 for the hydraulic and coolant pumps are depressed,operation for the pumps being indicated by illumination of therespective lights 112. Both pumps may suitably be operated continuouslyand are turned on at the beginning of a work shift and are left on andrunning until the end of the shift, or until the machine is to bereadjusted for a different honing operation. Work pieces 22 are theninserted in the lixture 20 and secured therein by the locking means 25,26, 27. As will be appreciated, insertion of the work pieces may beaccomplished manually or automatically by known apparatus. For clarity,reference is made herein to manual loading only. When the fixture isloaded, the fixture start'button 113 is depressed to energize the motor21, the motor 21 automatically indexing the fixture to dispose the borein one work piece generally in axial alignment with the spindle andshafts of the honing apparatus. Indexing of the fixture is automaticallyaccomplished, when the xture control buttons 113 and 114 are depressedalternately, by means of conventional stops and control means located inpredetermined positions according to practices well known in the art,actuation of the motor 21 being effective by fluid under pressure fromthe hydraulic pump 15 under the master control of the xture controlbuttons.

With a work piece properly mounted in the fixture 20 and aligned withthe honing apparatus 10, honing is commenced by depression of the honestart button 113. This first results in the supply of hydraulic iiuidunder pressure from the pump 15 to the hydraulic motor 13 causing themotor to move the apparatus 10 toward the work piece 22. As the nose 96of the honing tool 11 engages the Work piece, the tool is guided intothe bore in the work piece by its tapered nose. If the axis of the workpiece is not perfectly aligned with the normal axis of rotation of thehoning tool, spindle and shafts, the nose of the tool and the toolitself guide and effect adjustment of the tool and its spindle andshafts into perfect axial alignment with the bore in the work piece, theclearance provided in the honing apparatus, at 78 and 82 in the bearingassembly 75 and in the universal 64, readily accommodating suchadjustment. Generally, the degree of misalignment between the bore ofthe work piece and the normal axis of rotation of the honing tool isvery slight, but even slight variations in alignment can be enough toresult in an entirely unsatisfactory honing operation and in a highpercentage of rejected work pieces. Misalignment may result fromslightly imperfect location of the bore in the work piece and/ orinability to index the work pieces to the exacting degree required,misalignment residing in radial or lateral offset and/or angularinclination of the axis of the bore in the work piece with respect tothe normal axis of rotation of the honing tool. To exhibit the nitenessof dimensional variation involved, we have found, in conjunction withthe work pieces specifically referred to herein, that radial offset iswithin the limit of l/qg inch from a given axis and that angularinclination does not result in a radial displacement from the given axisin excess of .010" within the length of the portion of the bore to behoned. Yet, this is enough to disrupt the honing operation. By providingthe universal 64 and by providing clearance in the universal and at 78and 82 in the bearing assembly 75, the present invention accommodatessuch variations in alignment and, accordingly, makes accommodation forthe honing tool to align itself exactly with the axis of the bore to behoned to elfect a perfect honing of the bore. While no particular limitsare to be placed on the clearance and movements accommodated by themachine of the invention, we have found, for the alignment variationsabove stated, that an annular clearance of 1/16 on the radiusl intheuniversal, an annular clearance of lgg on the radius at 78 and aclearance of .O01 inch at 82 (in'consideration of the length of themandrel), are entirely adequate for the specific purpose. Accordingly,as the honing apparatus is moved forwardly by means ofthe hydraulicmotor 13, the honing tool enters into and automatically aligns itselfwith the bore in the work piece.

As the honing apparatus 10 moves forwardly, a trip bar 115, suitablycarried by the housing 39, engages a rst control switch 116 to close anelectric circuit to a timer 117, which may, for example, be mountedadjacent the control panel 111. The timer 117 is adapted to be set foraV predetermined time interval constituting the time normally requiredto perform a Vgiven honing operation, and the'switch 116 and timer 117are included in the circuits'of the spindle drive motor 32 and thesolenoid valve'97. The switch 116 isadapted to close the circuit,whereupon the circuit 'is'maintained closed by vthe timer for the saidpredetermined interval, during which interval c the solenoid valve 97 isheld opened and the motor 32 is operated. Preferably, the 'switch 116 islocated to accommodate insertion of the stones 89 of the honing tool atleast partially into the portion of the bore to be honed before theswitch is closed. Upon operation of the motor 32, the honing tool isrotated thereby Vwithin the bore. At this same time, air is supplied ata predetermined pressure through the regulator 98 tothe pneumatic motor61 which acts in the manner described hereinbefore to bias the stones 89of the honing tool radially outwardly, under uniform constant, resilientpressure, into engagement with the walls of the portion of the bore tobe honed. During this time, the honing apparatus 10 continues to moveforwardly until'the trip bar 115 engages a second control switch 11Swhich is connected in a control circuit for the hydraulic motor 13, thecircuit, its components and operation being well known to those skilledin the art and therefore not specifically shown herein. The switch 118is so located that the honing tool reaches one end of the portion of thebore to be honed when the trip bar 115 closes the switch, the switch inturn closing a suitable circuit to cause reversal of the hydraulic motor13, whereupon the honing apparatus travels Vrearwardly on its carriagerods 42 until the trip bar 115 engages a third control switch 119. Theswitch 119, like the switch 118, is included in the control circuit forthe hydraulic motor 13, so Vthat as the switch 119 is closed,operationof the hydraulic motor is again reversed to move the honingapparatus forwardly toward the work piece. By positioning of theswitches 118 and 119 to be closed by the trip bar 115 when the honingtool is at the opposite ends of the portion of the bore to 'be honed,automatic reciprocation of the honing tool within the portion of thebore to be honed is accommodated. Such reciprocation of the apparatustakes place automatically for the interval of time l set by the timer117. Thus, for a predetermined time interval, the honing stones arebiased into engagement with the work piece and are simultaneouslyrotated and reciprocated within the portion of the bore to be honed toperform a highly eiiicient honing operation.

Upon expiration of the interval for which the timer 117 was set, thetimer automatically opens the circuit to the motor 32, solenoid valve 97and control switch 113. Rotation of the honing tool is thus discontinuedand the stones are released and returned to their radially inwardposition by means of the return spring 63 in the pneumatic motor 61. lnaddition, when the timer opens the said circuits, the control switch 119is conditioned, suitably by a time delay relay (not shown) associatedwith the timer, for operation only during a very short additional periodof time. if the honing apparatus 10 is moving rearwardly when the timeinterval of Voperation expires, the bar 115 will again trip `the switch119 to result in forward movement of the apparatus 10. If the honingapparatus .19 is moving forwardly when the timer 117 opens the circuit,the apparatus will continue to Vmove forwardly. In either case, as theapparatus 10 moves forwardly, the trip bar rides over the switch 118since the circuit of this switch is now open, to move the pneumatic pluggauge 100 into the now honed portion of the bore in the work piece.V Asthe plug 100 is moved into the honed bore, the escape of air through theports 109' is restricted to aord an indication of the accuracy of thehoned bore on the comparator 110, As is known, the comparator willindicate whether the bore is within tolerances, or over or under size.When the plug gauge has been entered to a predetermined extent into thehoned portion of the work piece bore, the trip bar closesra fourthcontrol switch which duplicates the function of the switch 118 to effectreversal of the hydraulic motor 13 and rearward movement of theapparatus 10.

As the apparatus moves rearwardly, the trip bar 115 rides harmlesslyover the switches 116, 118 and 119 until the same closes a iifth controlswitch 121 which serves to stop or discontinue operation of thehydraulic motor 13, to recondition the apparatus lfor a repeat operationand to accommodate operation of the fixture moving motor 21. Preferably,the control circuit includes switch means in conjunction with the motor21 and switch 121, which prevents movement of the honing apparatus 1t?while the fixture is being moved and vice versa.

. To accommodate use of Vthe machine for a wide variety of honingoperations, the switches 116, 118, 119 and 12@ are adiustably mounted onthe machine.

in use and operation then, the operator rst sets the umps 15 and 29 inoperation by depressing the appropriate start buttons 113. Then, theoperator loads two work pieces into the carriage of the fixture 20.Since one of the work pieces will always be indexed, the machine is setto start honing. The timer is set for a predetermined time interval, forexample, 1 to 12 seconds, in which the honing operation is to takeplace. The operator then depresses the honing start button 113,whereupon the apparatus 16 automatically moves forward to position andautomatically align the honing tool in the bore, the electric andpneumatic motors are automatically energized to effect honing, thehoning tool is automatically reciprocated in the bore, the air gauge isautomatically moved into the bore and the honing apparatus isautomatically retracted or withdrawn. As the air gauge moves into thebore, the operator-observes the comparator to determine the accuracy ofthe honed bore. Assuming the bore is within tolerances, the operator,upon automatic retraction of the honing apparatus, indexes the ixture 20by depressing the xture control button and then repeats the honingoperation'by depressing the hone start button. While the honingoperation on the second work piece is taking place, the operator removesthe first work piece from the fixture and inserts a new work piece. Atthe same time, the operator observes the comparator to see that thesecond work piece is accurately honed. If desired, to assist theoperator in his observance of the gauge, audible signal means could beincorporated in the gauging apparatus to indicate work pieces that werenot within tolerances. Upon completion of the second honing operation,the operator again indexes the iixture 2t) and reinitiates the honingoperation. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the speed ofoperation is great and that very high production rates can readily bemaintained. lf a bore is oversized, as indicated by the comparator, theoperator quickly rejects the work piece. It the bore is undersized, theoperator may directly rehone the work piece by immediately repeating thehoning operation, for the same or agreater or lesser time, by resettingthe timer if necessary-and depressing the lione start button withoutindexing the fixture. This too assures attainment of maximum productionrates with a minimum of rejections and tedious reworking.

From the foregoing, it is to be lappreciated that the present inventionaffords a fully automatic honing machine insuring attainment of maximumproduction rates while honing work pieces to a most precise degree. Thehoning tool is self-aligning in the bore of the Work piece so thathoning must take place concentrically. During honing, the honing stonesare uniformly and resiliently biased into engagement with the work pieceat constant pressure, and the amount of pressure may very readily bevaried as may be desired or necessary. Gauging of the work pieces iseffected at high speed and without loss of time and needless handling ofthe work pieces. And all of these features lead to the provision of ahigh speed honing tool requiring only a single operator for the entirehoning operation.

While we have described what we regard to be a preferred embodiment ofour invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

l. In a honing machine having a rotatable hone assembly, a drive shaftfor the assembly, a universal joint connecting said shaft and theassembly, and bearing means rotatably supporting the assembly, saidbearing means having clearances therein and including bearing surfacesaccommodating rotary lateral and angular movement of the assembly, saiduniversal joint accommodating said angular movement and having radialclearance therein accommodadng said lateral movement, whereby theassembly is free to move angularly and radially relative to said shaftto align itself With the work to be honed.

2. In a honing machine, a drive shaft, a driven spindle, a universaljoint coupling said shaft and said spindle for conjoint rotation, saiduniversal joint accommodating angular offset of the axes of said shaftand said spindle and having radial clearance therein accommodatingradial offset of said axes, and a bearing assembly rotatably supportingsaid spindle, said bearing assembly including thrust bearing meansmounting said spindle for rotation and for limited radial movement andself-aligning bearing means having an angularly movable race mountingsaid thrust bearing means for angular movement, whereby said bearingassembly accommodates radial and angular ott'- set of said axes.

3. ln a honing machine having a rotatable and axially movable honeassembly including a rotatable spindle and honing stones connectedthereto, the improvement comprising a pneumatic plug gauge rotatablymounted on the spindle adjacent the stones and retained thereon againstrelative axial movement to be moved by the assembly directly into a borein a work piece after honing thereof to guage the honed bore prior todisassociation of the work piece and the hone assembly, said gauge beingof a smaller diameter than the honed bore and being spaced from the wallof the bore.

4. In a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, bearing meansrotatably supporting said spindle and accommodating radial and angularoffset of said spindle, a rst shaft slidably mounted in said spindle forconjoint rotation with and relative axial movement with respect to saidspindle, a mandrel slidably mounted in said spindle and detachablyconnected to said shaft, at least one honing stone slidably carried bysaid mandrel and detachably connected to said spindle, said mandrel andsaid stone having cooperating cam surfaces to effect radially outwardmovement of said stone upon axial movement in one direction of saidshaft and said mandrel with respect to said spindle and said stone, arotatable and slidable drive shaft, a universal joint coupling saidshafts, said universal joint accommodating angular offset and havingradial clearance therein to accommodate radial offset of said spindle,said mandrel and said first shaft with respect to said drive shaft,means for rotating said drive shaft to rotate said spindle, said firstshaft, said mandrel and said stone, and

i4 a uid pressure operated motor coupled to said drive shaft andoperable under liuid pressure to move said drive shaft, said first shaftand said mandrel in said one axial direction to bias said stone radiallyoutward.

5. in a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, a bearing assemblysupporting said spindle, said bearing assembly including a thrustbearing rotatably supporting said spindle and accommodating radialoffset of the axis of rotation thereof and a self-aligning bearingaccommodating angular offset of the axis of rotation thereof, a firstshaft slidably mounted at one end thereof in one end of said spindle forconjoint rotation with and relative axial movement with respect to saidspindle, a mandrel slidably mounted at one end thereof in the other endof said spindle, said mandrel and said shaft being detachably connectedat the adjacent ends thereof for conjoint movement, a plurality ofhoning stones slidably carried on said mandrel adjacent the opposite endthereof, said stones being detachably connected to said other end ofsaid spindle, said mandrel and said stones having cooperating camsurfaces to eiect movement of said stones radially outwardly of saidmandrel and said spindle upon axial movement in one direction of saidshaft and said mandrel with respect to said spindle and said stones, arotatable and slidable drive shaft juxtaposed to said first shaft, saidfirst shaft, said mandrel and said stones, a universal joint couplingsaid shafts at the adjacent ends thereof, said universal jointaccommodating angular odset and having radial clearance therein toaccommodate radial offset of the axis of rotation of said spindle, saidmandrel and said first shaft with respect to said drive shaft, means forrotating said drive shaft to rotate said spindle, said first shaft, saidmandrel and said stones, and a fluid pressure operated motor having ashaft rotatably coupled to said drive shaft and operable under fluidpressure to move said drive shaft, said lirst shaft and said mandrel insaid one axial direction to bias said stones radially outwardly of saidspindle for engagement with the work to be honed at constant uniformpressure.

6. In a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, bearing meanssupporting said spindle adjacent one end thereof, a mandrel slidablymounted in said spindle for conjoint rotation therewith, at least onehoning stone slidably mounted on said mandrel adjacent the opposite endof said spindle and connected to said spindle, a hollow fluid pressureoperable plug gauge mounted on said spindle between said bearing meansand said stone and retained thereon against relative axial movement,bearing means rotatably supporting said gauge on said spindle and meansretaining said gauge against rotation, said mandrel and said stonehaving cooperable cam surfaces to eifect movement of said stone radiallyoutwardly beyond said gauge upon sliding movement of said mandrel in onedirection with respect to said spindle and said stone, and a iiuidpressure operated motor operatively associated with said mandrel andoperable under uid pressure to move said mandrel in said one directionto bias said stone radially outwardly beyond said gauge to engage a workpiece to be honed at constant uniform pressure, said spindle beingaxially movable to dispose said stone in engagement with the work pieceand being further movable to dispose said gauge adjacent the honedportion of the work piece to gauge the same prior to disassociation ofthe work piece and the honing stone, said gauge having clearancerelative to the honed surface of the work piece and having an outletjuxtaposed to the said surface, said gauge being connected to a fluidpressure source to discharge uid under pressure from said outlet againstthe said honed surface, the rate of escape of fluid into the spacebetween the gauge and the said surface being a function of the distancebetween said outlet and the said surface to afford a gauging function.

7. In a honing machine, a rotatable tubular spindle, a shaft slidablymounted in said spindle for conjoint rotation therewith, a mandrelslidably mounted in said spindle and detachably connected to said shaft,bearing means supporting said spindle adjacent one end thereof rotatablytosupport said spindle, said shaft and said mandrel, said mandrelextending beyond the opposite end of said spindle, a plurality of honingstones slidably mounted on the extending portion of said mandrel anddetachably connected to said spindle at said opposite end of saidspindle, a tubular pneumatic plug gauge rotatably mounted on saidspindle between said bearing means and said stones and retained thereonagainst relative axial movement, bearing means rotatably supporting saidgauge on said spindle and means retaining said gauge against rotation,said stones and said mandrel having cooperating cam surfaces to effectmovement of said stones radially outwardly beyond said gauge uponsliding movement of said shaft and said mandrel in one direction withrespect to said spindle and said stones, means for rotating saidspindle, said shaft, said mandrel and said stones, a pneumatic motorhaving a shaft operatively associated with said shaft for relativerotation and conjoint sliding movement, said motor being pneumaticallyoperable to move said shaft and said mandrel in said one directionduring rotation of said spindle, said shaft, said mandrel and saidstones to bias said stones radially outwardly beyond said gauge toengage the walls of a bore in a work piece to be honed, and means formoving said spindle, said mandrel, said stones and said gauge bodilyinto the bore to be honed to hone the bore by means of said stones andimmediately to gauge the honed bore by means of said gauge, said gaugebeing of a diameter smaller than the honed bore and beingspaced from thewall of the bore, said gauge having an outlet in the peripheral surfacethereof to be disposed within the honed bore Vand being connected to asource of air under pressure to discharge air from said outlet into thespace between said gauge and the wall of the bore, the rate of escape offluid into the said space being a function of the radial dimension ofthe said space to afford a gauging function. Y

8. In a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, bearing meanssupporting said spindle adjacent one end thereof andaccommodatinglateral and angular offset of the axis of rotation thereof, a mandrelslidably mounted in said spindle for conjoint rotation therewith, atleast one honing stone slidably mounted on said mandrel adjacent theopposite end of said spindle and connected to said spindle, a hollowfluid pressure operable plug gauge mounted on said spindle between saidbearing means and said stone and retained thereon against relative axialmovement, bearing means rotatably supporting said gauge on said spindleand means retaining said gauge against rotation, said mandrel and saidstone having cooperable cam surfaces to effect movement of said stoneradially outwardly beyond said gauge upon sliding movement of saidmandrel in one directon with respect to said spindle and said stone, afluid pressure operated motor operatively associated with said mandreland operable under fluid pressure to move said mandrel in said onedirection to bias said stone radially outwardly beyond said gauge toengage a work piece to be honed at constant uniform pressure, and meansfor moving said spindle axially toward a work piece having a boretherein to be honed, said bearing means accommodating self-alignment ofsaid stone in the bore, said means for axially moving said spindlemoving said stone into the bore to effect honing and subsequently movingthe spindle further into the bore to dispose said gauge in the honedbore prior to disassociation of the work piece and the honing stone,said gauge being of a diameter less than the bore and being spaced fromthe wall of the bore, said Vgauge having an outlet in the peripheralsurface thereof to be disposed in the honed bore and being connected toa fluid pressure source to discharge fluid under pressure into the spacebetween said outlet and the wall of the bore, the rate of escape -offluid into the said space being a function of i5 the radial dimension ofthe said space to afford a gauging function.

9. In a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, a shaft slidablymounted in said spindle for conjoint rotation therewith, a mandrelslidably mounted in said spindle-and detachably connected to said shaft,bearing means supporting said'spindle adjacent one end thereof rotatablyto support said spindle, said shaft and said mandrel, said bearing meansincluding a thrust bearing rotatably supporting said spindle andaccommodatingV radial offset of the axis of rotation thereof and aself-aligning bearing accommodating angular offset of the axis ofrotation thereof, said mandrel extending beyond kthe opposite end ofsaid spindle, a plurality of honing stones slidably mounted on theextending portion of said mandrel and detachably connected to saidspindle at said opposite end of said spindle, a hollow plug gaugerotatably mounted on said spindie between said bearing means and saidstones, said stones and said mandrel having cooperating cam surfaces toeffect movement of said stones radially outwardly beyond said gauge uponsliding movement of said shaft and said mandrel in one direction withrespect to said spindle and said stones, means for rotating saidspindle, said shaft, said mandrel and said stones, a fluid pressureoperated motor having a shaft operatively associated with said shaftforrelative rotation and conjoint sliding movement, said motor beingoperable under fluid pressure to move said shaft and said mandrel insaid one direction during rotation of said spindle, said shaft, saidmandrel and said stones to bias said stones radially outwardly beyondsaid gauge to engage the walls of a bore in a work piece to be honed,and means for moving said spindle, said mandrel, said stones and saidgauge bodily into the bore to Vbe honed to hone the bore by means ofsaid stones and immediately to gauge the honed bore by means of saidgauge, said bearing means accommodating selfalignment of said stones andsaid gauge in the bore.

l0. In a honing machine, a rotatable hollow spindle, a bearing assemblysupporting said spindle adjacent one end thereof, said bearing assemblyincluding a thrust bearing rotatably supporting said spindle andaccommodating radial offset of the axis of rotation thereof and aself-aligning bearing accommodating angular offset of the axis ofrotation thereof, a first shaft slidably mounted at one end thereof inone end of said spindle for conjoint rotation with and relative axialmovement with respect to said spindle, a mandrel slidably mounted atvone end thereof in the other end of said spindle, said mandrel and saidshaft being detachably connected at the adjacent ends thereof forconjoint movement, a plurality of honing stones slidably mounted on saidmandrel adjacent the opposite end thereof, said stones being detachablyconnected to said other end of said spindle, a hollow fluid pressureoperable plug gauge rotatably mounted on said spindle between saidbearing assembly and said stones, said mandrel and said stones havingcooperating cam surfaces to effect movement of said stones radiallyoutwardly beyond said gauge upon axial movement of said shaft and saidmandrel in one direction with respect to said spindle and said stones, arotatable and slidable drive shaft juxtaposed to said first shaft, saidfirst shaft, said mandrel and said stones, a universal joint couplingsaid shafts at the adjacent ends thereof, said universal jointaccommodating angular offset and having radial clearance therein toaccommodate radial offset of the axis of rotation of said spindle, saidmandrel and said yfirst shaft with respect to said drive shaft, meansfor rotating said drive shaft to rotate said spindle, said first shaft,said mandrel and said stones, a fluid pressure operated motor having ashaft rotatably coupled to said drive shaft and operable under fluidpressure to move said drive shaft, said first shaft and said mandrel insaid one axial direction to bias said stones radially outwardly beyondsaid gauge for engagement with the work to be honed at constant uniformpressure, and means for moving the above dened structure toward a workpiece having a bore therein to be honed, said bearing assembly andV saiduniversal joint accommodating self-alignment of the axis of rotation ofsaid spindle, said first shaft, said mandrel and said stones with theaxis of the bore to be honed, said last-named means moving said stonesinto the bore to effect honing of the bore and moving said gauge intothe honed bore to gauge the same.

ll. In a honing machine, a base, a housing slidably mounted on said basefor reciprocal movement in a given path, a first uid pressure operatedmotor mounted on said base and operatively associated with said housingfor moving said housing in said path, a drive shaft, bearing meansrotatably and slidably supporting said drive shaft in said housing,drive means on said housing for rotating said drive shaft, a secondfluid pressure operated motor on said housing operatively associatedwith said drive shaft and operable under uid pressure to move said driveshaft axially in one direction, a hollow spindle mounted at one endthereof in said housing and extending outwardly of said housing, abearing assembly supporting said spindle at said one end thereof in saidhousing and accommodating angular and radial offset of the axis of saidspindle with respect to the axis of said drive shaft, a second shaftslidably mounted in said spindle axially thereof and coupled to saidspindle for conjoint rotation therewith, a universal joint coupling saiddrive shaft and said second shaft, said universal joint accommodatingangular offset and having radial clearance therein to accommodate radialoffset of said spindle and said second shaft with respect to said driveshaft, a mandrel slidably mounted in said spindle and detachablyconnected to said second shaft for conjoint rotation with said spindleand said shafts, said mandrel extending beyond the outer end of saidspindle, a plurality of honing stones slidably mounted on the extensionof said mandrel and detachably connected to the outer end of saidspindle, a fluid pressure operable plug gauge rotatably mounted on theextension of said spindle between said bearing assembly and said stones,said stones and said mandrel having cooperating cam surfaces to effectradially outward movement of said stones beyond said gauge upon slidingmovement of said mandrel and said shafts in said one direction, andcontrol means for operating said fluid pressure operated motors and saiddrive means comprising a first switch controlling energization of saidrst uid pressure operated motor to move said housing and said spindletoward a work piece having a bore to be honed, said bearingassemblyaccommodating self-alignment of said spindle, said second shaft, saidmandrel, said stones and said gauge with the axis of the bore, a secondswitch mounted on said base controlling energization of said drive meansand said second uid pressure operated motor, a trip bar on said housingfor tripping said second switch, a timer cooperable with said secondswitch to control the duration of energization of said drive means andsaid second uid pressure operated motor, a third switch mounted on saidbase forwardly of said second switch and engageable by said trip bar,said third switch cooperating with said first switch and said Erst uidpressure operated motor to reverse the direction of movement of saidhousing, a fourth switch mounted on said base rearwardly of said thirdswitch and engageable by said trip bar on reverse movement of saidhousing, said fourth switch cooperating with said r'irst and thirdswitches and said first fluid pressure operated motor again to move saidhousing toward/the work piece, said timer controlling the function ofsaid third and fourth switches to energize said rst fluid pressureoperated motor to move said housing toward the work piece beyond saidthird switch upon expiration of the duration of energization of saiddrive means and said second fluid pressure operated motor, and a fifthswitch mounted on said base forwardly of said third switch andduplicating the function of said third switch, said control means uponclos- 18 ing of said second switch controlling operation of said fluidpressure operated motors and said drive means to move said stones intothe bore to be honed, to effect radial expansion and rotation of saidstones to hone the bore, simultaneously to reciprocate the stones in thebore,

to ydiscontinue honing upon expiration of a predetermined time interval,to move said gauge into the honed bore, and thereafter to withdrawsaid'gauge and said stones from the bore. Y

12. In a honing machine, a rotatable and axially movable spindle,bearing means supporting the spindle adjacent one end thereof, honingstones connected to said spindle adjacent the opposite end thereof, afluid pressure operable plug gauge rotatably mounted on said spindlebetween said bearing means and said stones and retained thereon againstrelative axial movement, means retaining said gauge against rotation,said spindle being axially movable to insert said stones into a bore tobe honed and being further movable to insert said gauge into the honedbore, said gauge being of a smaller diameter than the honed bore to bespaced from the wall of the bore, said gauge being connected to a uidpressure source and having an outlet in the peripheral surface thereofto be disposed in the bore, the rate of escape of fluid from said outletinto the space between the peripheral surface of said gauge and the wallof the honed bore being a function of the radial dimension of the saidspace to aiford a gauging function.

13. In a honing machine, a drive shaft, a driven spindle, a universaljoint coupling'said shaft and said spindle for conjoint rotation, saiduniversal joint accommodating angular offset of the axes of said shaftand said spindle and having radial clearance therein accommodatingradial offset of said axes, and a bearing assembly rotatably supportingsaid spindle, said bearing assembly including thrust bearing meansmounting said spindle for rotation and for limited radial movement andself-aligning bearing means comprising an angularly movable race havingradial clearance relative to said spindle and mounting said thrustbearing means and said spindle for angular movement, said bearingassembly accommodating radial and angular movement of said spindle toaccommodate radial and angular offset of said axes of said shaft andsaid spindle.

14. In a honing machine having a rotatable hone assembly and meansadapted to position a Work piece generally in alignment with the axis ofthe assembly, the improvement comprising bearing means supporting theassembly and accommodating at all times radial and angular offset of theaxis of rotation of the assembly for facilitating exact alignment of theassembly with each work piece to be honed, said bearing means comprisinga spherical bearing freely encircling the hone assembly and including astationary outer race and an angularly movable inner race, saidinner'race having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter ofsaid assembly and being spaced freely therefrom to accommodate radialmovement of said assembly, and a pair of thrust bearings engaging saidinner race of said spherical bearing at the opposite ends thereof, saidthrust bearings rotatably mounting the hone assembly on the inner raceof said spherical bearing and each including a pair of races, one xed tosaid inner race of said spherical bearing and the other fixed to thehone assembly, and a plurality of ball bearings between said races, saidlast-named races and said ball bearings accommodating relative rotationand relative radial movement between the races of said thrust bearingsand between said inner race of said spherical bearing and the honeassembly, said races of said thrust bearings being freely spaced fromsaid stationary race of said spherical bearing to accommodate angularmovement of the hone assembly, said thrust bearings and the inner raceof said spherical bearing relative to said stationary race of saidspherical bearing whereby the hone assembly is rotatably supported bysaid .19 bearing means -witil :freedom at all times foi' Vradial and2,372,769 angular'oiset of the axis of rotation thereof. 27,491,364 Y2,631,414

References Cited in the file v of `this patent Y .UNITED VSTATES.PATENTS Y '5 Y 963,296 Junggren Ju1y 5, 197170 613,962, 2,229,318Wallace Jan. 21, 41941 1301612 Y 2,271,768AY Johnson Feb. 3, 1942 20Remer Apr. l3, `1945 Earl D,ec. 13,1949 Muehling Mar. 17,1953

FOREIGN AtEisTsn 'j i `Grea Britain Dec. 117., 194 France May 25, v1955

